An apology to Assemblyman Bill Starr

STARR OBTAINS APOLOGY FOR REPORTS LINKING HIM TO BAUER IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE: Eagle River Assemblyman Bill Starr gets a public apology from Assemblyman Allan Tesche for incorrectly listing him as one of two Assembly members who joined Assembly member Paul Bauer in introducing AO 2007-125. The controversial ordinance was introduced before the Assembly six weeks ago. Earlier this week City Clerk Barbara Guenstein confirmed that the ordinance was introduced by Paul Bauer, Dan Sullivan, and Chris Birch. Mr. Tesche regrets the error made in the September 11, 2007 Tesche Report and in a separate Compass article published in the Anchorage Daily News on October 11, 2007.

Bauer’s ordinance would require Anchorage police to verify the immigration status of any persons stopped for traffic violations. AO 2007-125 would also force APD to sign a "cooperative agreement" with the Homeland Security requiring Anchorage Police to enforce federal immigration laws and to hold illegal aliens in local facilities for delivery to federal authorities. Made yesterday afternoon, Starr’s demand for a public apology sheds new light on the growing controversy over Bauer’s "anti-sanctuary" ordinance. Proclaiming that Tesche’s ideals actually align with his own, Starr believes that by listing him as an initial sponsor of the ordinance, Tesche has "changed the publics [sic] perception" of . . . his value system". The Eagle River assemblyman is also offended by what he characterized as efforts to discredit his "integrity or human compassion". When approached by Bauer to be added as a cosponsor of the ordinance, Starr refused. With all of these statements, it appears that Starr will actually vote against the ordinance.

Points well taken by the Assemblyman. AO 2007- 125 should indeed offend persons of integrity or human compassion. Bill says theses are his values and I share them. I look forward to working together with him in convincing other members of the Assembly to defeat this unnecessary and expensive ordinance.